Our experience in pastoral ministry took place in rural Pennsylvania, in a small town called Emporium. Nestled in the mountains of Cameron County, the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds, Emporium is a small community of about 2500 . . . if everyone is home! Sherri and I both grew up in this town.

Like many small rural communities, Emporium has its fair share of problems; some might say much more than its fair share! Having lived in this community, we know in detail the problems associated with the town; drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide and sexual abuse are more common than folks there care to admit. As pastors in this community, we have seen the hurt and pain the devil has inflicted and we began to earnestly pray for the deliverance of this town.

For many years, every Sunday morning, Sherri and I would head to an overlook that provided a stunning view of our little town, and we would pray there. On one particular occasion, I went alone and was praying over the town; what happened that day would change my life forever!

While I was praying that day, I was praying against the powers and principalities that had been enslaving the people in this community for years. Determined to see a breakthrough, I was passionately praying out loud; my fists punching at the sky as if pounding on the devil himself! It was then the most unexpected thing happened; the Lord seemed to come near and then he asked me a question. To the best of my recollection, here is how the conversation unfolded.

A meeting with God on the Mountain

The Lord said to me;

“Rock, what are you doing?”

I was somewhat taken aback, as to me it seemed obvious what I was doing, so I answered the Lord; “I am praying.” He said in the kindest way possible;

“Why are you praying like that, punching at the sky?”

I was not sure what He was getting at and I really did not know how to answer, so I responded; “This is how I do it.” There was a pause and then he asked me another question;

“Rock, where are you?”

Now I’m getting even more confused and all I could do was to say; “I’m here, Lord!” There was another pause and then He rephrased the same question;

“Rock, where are you spiritually speaking?”

I responded by saying, “I’m with you, Lord.” It was then that the Scripture from Ephesians 2:6 came rushing to my heart. The Lord asked me again;

“Rock, where are you?”

I responded; “I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms” What the Lord said next would forever change my life and ministry!

The Lord said to me;

“Rock, stop praying with your fists pounding at the sky, as if you were fighting an enemy that you are in subjection to. Start praying from your true position in Me. Instead of praying with a down side up mentality, pray from the up side down, from the heavenly realm where you are seated; the battle is not over your head, but is under your feet.”

Praying With Authority

Wow! I was stunned by what had just taken place. I realized that much of my prayer life was done out of a sense of duty, not recognizing the authority with which one could pray. I learned that I do have authority and that I could pray expecting awesome answers; the days going forward would give ample opportunity for the truth of this to become evident. It was out of this encounter with the Lord on that mountain that birthed the idea of Praying Upside Down and hence the name of our ministry endeavor; Faith Upside Down.

Getting Ready for Battle

I have prepared a Bible Study that is designed to help us understand our key role in partnering with Jesus, our Lord. Ours is a joint venture with Him, as He commands us to advance His Kingdom here on earth. God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us to be totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW! It is God’s hope that by accepting the work of His Son Jesus, we would by faith be redeemed and by faith be made entirely whole.

As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective and we are transported into the heavens with Christ, and we live and breathe and find our being in Him!

Acts 17:28

“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.”

We have been given authority

As children of God, Jesus gives His authority, His power, and His Love to us, so that we can operate as His ambassadors while living on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:20

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

. . . And as ambassadors of Christ, we have a mission; He said . . .

Matthew 28:18-20

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We Must Stay Alert

When we engage in this amazing partnership, there are a few things we need to be aware of. While it is true that Satan has been defeated by Christ; Satan’s influence and evil intentions are still very much active today and we need to be alert and on guard.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

What we Will Learn

We will examine our role in this endeavor. We will look at some of the “KEY” players involved and their motives and we will UN-MASK THE STRATEGY OF OUR ENEMY, and we will learn how to properly use the weapons, that God has given us, so that. . .

Ephesians 6:13-14

“When the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then”

We will learn how to Pray “UP-SIDE DOWN.” To be effective in this relationship with Christ, we must first understand our true position in Him.

Ephesians 2:6

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus . . .

Too many times we engage the enemy from a “DOWN SIDE-UP” mentality, and we get defeated before we even have a chance to engage in battle. When engaging the enemy, it is not enough to know “ABOUT” our true position in Christ, but we MUST BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE!